The Chief Rabbinate of Israel has reached an agreement with the main American Orthodox rabbinical association to automatically accept letters from council members vouching for the Jewish status of Israeli immigrants. More ▸

The New York congressman who represents Rabbi Avi Weiss expressed his concerns to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the Chief Rabbinate’s decision to reject Jewish status letters written by the rabbi. More ▸

Tomorrow, I’ll have a longer story about Rabbi Avi Weiss’ controversial ordination of three Orthodox women on Sunday. But in the meantime, check out the sample ordination certificate, or klaf, provided to one of the first graduates of Yeshivat Maharat, Weiss’ school for the training of women as “rabbinic leaders.” More ▸